Books by National Research Council

In considering how to implement provisions of the Clean Water Act to strengthen nutrient reduction objectives across the Mississippi River basin, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requested advice from the National Research Council. This book presents the results of the committee's investigations and deliberations.

"The Small Business Administration issued a policy directive in 2002, the effect of which has been to exclude innovative small firms in which venture capital firms have a controlling interest from the SBIR program. This book seeks to illuminate the consequences of the SBA ruling excluding majority-owned venture capital firms from participation in SBIR projects."--Publisher's description.

In October 2007, the US National Academies and the Iranian Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Science organized a series of planned US-Iranian workshops on the topic 'Science as a Gateway to Understanding'. This book includes papers that were presented at the workshop and summaries of the discussions that followed some of the presentations.

Maintaining the capabilities of the nuclear weapons stockpile and performing the annual assessment for the stockpile's certification involves a wide range of processes, technologies, and expertise. This book evaluates how the national security labs were using quantification of margins and uncertainties (QMU).

Covers the discussions of the 2nd International Forum on Biosecurity, held in Budapest, Hungary on March 30-April 2, 2008.

Examines how the requirements to restrict resident workweeks, including limits to an average of 80 hours over 4 weeks and the consecutive period of work to 30 hours to protect patients and residents from unsafe conditions resulting from excessive fatigue were implemented and their impact on safety, education, and the training institutions.

Includes Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs) for acetone cyanohydrin, carbon disulfide, monochloroacetic acid, and phenol. This book reviews the scientific literature for 12 chemicals.

Examines the structure, meaning, and international repercussions of the Antarctic Treaty, focusing on the ways it benefits both the scientific and political communities. This study includes chapters that cover the history, science, environment, resources, and international status of Antarctica.

This update of "Reducing Risks for Mental Disorders" focuses special attention on the research base and program experience with younger populations that have emerged since 1994. Those involved in prevention science will depend on this updated information on the status of research and suggested directions for the field of mental health and prevention of disorders.

The so-called nuclear renaissance has increased worldwide interest in nuclear power. This title summarizes key issues and analyses of the topic, offers some criteria for evaluating options, and makes findings and recommendations to help the United States, the Russian Federation, and the international community reduce proliferation and other risks.

Beryllium and its alloys can be found in many important technologies in the defense and aeronautics industries. This book, requested by the US Air Force to help to determine the steps necessary to protect its workforce from the effects of beryllium, outlines an exposure and disease management program for protecting its workers.

The rapid conversion of land to urban and suburban areas has profoundly altered how water flows during and following storm events, putting higher volumes of water and more pollutants into the nation's rivers, lakes, and estuaries. This book calls for a structure that puts authority and accountability for stormwater discharges at municipal level.

The US agencies with counterterrorism programs that collect personal data should be required to evaluate the programs' effectiveness, lawfulness, and impacts on privacy. This book urges Congress to examine the privacy law to assess how privacy can be protected in current and future programs.

Increased agricultural productivity is a major stepping stone on the path out of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, but farmers there face tremendous challenges improving production. This title identifies sixty technologies with the potential to significantly improve agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

On April 1-2, 2008, a workshop was held at the National Academies to gather reactions to the research and development aspects of the Joint Planning and Development Office's baseline Integrated Work Plan (IWP), which is designed to increase the efficiency of airport and air space use in the United States. This book offers a summary of the workshop.

ITER presents the United States and its international partners with the opportunity to explore new and exciting frontiers of plasma science while bringing the promise of fusion energy closer to reality. This book assesses the US Department of Energy (DOE) plan for US fusion community participation in ITER, and evaluates the plan's elements.